1) I got a load of what was supposed to be composted mushroom soil.
It's light and airy, but deeper in the pile it smells real bad.
(anaerobic composting?)

2) I planted a few flowers using most all the mushroom soil to replace
the very heavy clay I dug out.

3) After a couple months, most of these plants are dead or dieing.

So..........

Was I wrong to use almost 100% mushroom soil and the nitrogen is burning
the roots?

Is the soil not true mushroom soil and isn't finished decomposing?
Again too much nitrogen?

Note: I have not had a single stray mushroom grow out of the pile of
soil (about 5' round and 3' tall).

Other?

At best you would till a maximum of 6 inches of this mushroom compost
into the soil a few weeks before planting.
Less would be smarter.
It is a soil AMMENDMENT not a growing medium. In addition to being a
bit too rich in nitrogen it goes through some wide swings in pH.

On 5/25/10 9:08 AM, Tony wrote:
1) I got a load of what was supposed to be composted mushroom soil.
It's light and airy, but deeper in the pile it smells real bad.
(anaerobic composting?)

2) I planted a few flowers using most all the mushroom soil to replace
the very heavy clay I dug out.

3) After a couple months, most of these plants are dead or dieing.

So..........

Was I wrong to use almost 100% mushroom soil and the nitrogen is burning
the roots?

Is the soil not true mushroom soil and isn't finished decomposing?
Again too much nitrogen?

Note: I have not had a single stray mushroom grow out of the pile of
soil (about 5' round and 3' tall).

Other?

Always till compost or other amendments into the native soil. Never
merely replace native soil with the compost.

Mere replacement leaves an interface between the compost and the soil
beneath it. That interface often becomes a barrier that roots will not
cross. Often, water will not cross it either, resulting in a bog in the
compost.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

On 5/25/2010 12:08 PM, Tony wrote:
1) I got a load of what was supposed to be composted mushroom soil. It's
light and airy, but deeper in the pile it smells real bad. (anaerobic
composting?)

2) I planted a few flowers using most all the mushroom soil to replace
the very heavy clay I dug out.

3) After a couple months, most of these plants are dead or dieing.

So..........

Was I wrong to use almost 100% mushroom soil and the nitrogen is burning
the roots?

Is the soil not true mushroom soil and isn't finished decomposing? Again
too much nitrogen?

Note: I have not had a single stray mushroom grow out of the pile of
soil (about 5' round and 3' tall).

Other?

Mushroom soil is compost that has been used to grow mushrooms. It is
deplete of nutrients for the mushrooms which is why it is displaced by
new compost and sold as soil amendment. It can also be full of
unsprouted weed seeds. There are a lot of mushroom houses around here
and mushroom soil is fairly cheap and usually people buy and spread an
inch or two on their lawns as an amendment. It's not used neat.

Been a long time since I've bought any and following url says it is
sterilized:

http://www.americanmushroom.org/compost.htm

Tony wrote:
1) I got a load of what was supposed to be composted mushroom soil. It's
light and airy, but deeper in the pile it smells real bad. (anaerobic
composting?)

2) I planted a few flowers using most all the mushroom soil to replace
the very heavy clay I dug out.

3) After a couple months, most of these plants are dead or dieing.

So..........

Was I wrong to use almost 100% mushroom soil and the nitrogen is burning
the roots?

Is the soil not true mushroom soil and isn't finished decomposing? Again
too much nitrogen?

Note: I have not had a single stray mushroom grow out of the pile of
soil (about 5' round and 3' tall).

Other?

I thought I replied last night but I don't see it. Just a "thank you"
for the info. I better get out there and replant this stuff before it's
all dead.

Thanks again,
Tony

On Tue, 25 May 2010 12:08:34 -0400, Tony
wrote:

1) I got a load of what was supposed to be composted mushroom soil.
It's light and airy, but deeper in the pile it smells real bad.
(anaerobic composting?)

2) I planted a few flowers using most all the mushroom soil to replace
the very heavy clay I dug out.

3) After a couple months, most of these plants are dead or dieing.

So..........

Was I wrong to use almost 100% mushroom soil and the nitrogen is burning
the roots?

Is the soil not true mushroom soil and isn't finished decomposing?
Again too much nitrogen?

Note: I have not had a single stray mushroom grow out of the pile of
soil (about 5' round and 3' tall).

Other?


Mushroom compost can be 100% horse manure. That is too strong for
most plants to survive. The area you used the mushroom compost
should be ready for 2011 spring planting. Or, remove the "soil," set
it aside for next year, and replace the area with topsoil.